Prawn ban: Farmers praise import ban after virus found in Australia

Devastated prawn farmers say the government should have acted years ago to stop the importation of raw prawns they suspect brought an exotic virus to Australia.

The federal government has suspended imports of green, or raw, prawns after white spot disease was found at five farms near the Logan River in Queensland's southeast. Wild prawns taken from the river have also tested positive.

Prawns worth tens of millions of dollars, which were being raised in ponds at the infected farms, have been destroyed since the virus was detected last month.

Biosecurity officials are still working to determine exactly how it reached Australia but some farmers suspect it hitched a ride with infected raw imports from overseas.

The Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) has welcomed Friday's suspension after white spot was detected in raw prawns being sold at shops.

But APFA board member Nick Moore, who's also the general manager of one of the infected farms, says it's akin to shutting the gate after the horse has bolted.

"The importation of raw prawns into Australia was a vector we've been highlighting for many years," he told ABC television on Friday.

"While I absolutely applaud the government's stance on this right now, it would have been nice a couple of years ago."

Prawn disease experts have previously said imported green prawns carrying the virus could have infected Australian stocks by being used as bait.

Tests have shown the virus can survive and be transmitted, even after infected animals have been frozen.

In announcing the suspension, Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce said the virus had the potential to destroy Australia's $360 million industry.

The virus does not affect humans but does cause high mortality rates in prawns.

"We are doing everything in our power to make sure we deal with this and try and nip this in the bud," Mr Joyce told ABC television on Friday.

"We are going back to those importers who brought the green prawns in and going through them with a fine tooth comb in regards to their protocols and what they were doing."

One importer has been banned while a number of others are under investigation.

Consumers who've bought raw prawns are being urged not to use them as bait.

The suspension will remain in place indefinitely until risks are minimised.

The move does not affect imports of cooked prawns.